Toy vehicle



Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. GILBERT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO A. C. GILBERT7 COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

TOY VEHICLE.

Application filed December 16, 1920. Serial No. 431,203.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States,residing in New Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Vehicles, of

'which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly to thosewhich may be built up or fabricated from standard construction units orelements. Theseunits or elements are so constructed and'arranged thatthey may be assembled'to form many different toys. For the sake ofeconomy in manufacture and in order that many different toys may beformed from a small number of construction units, it is necessary thatthese units be so arranged that the same parts may be associatedtogether in various different relations.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedconstruction toy vehicle, which maybe fabricated from a minimum numberof different elements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a set of memberswhich may be associated together in various ways to secure the axles tothe body of the vehicle, at different distances therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel, andimproved method of attaching the axle securely to the body of thevehicle. V c

To these and other ends the invention resides in the novel features andcombinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle, of the type known as aglider or coaster, embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the method of assembly of the rearaxle bearing members;

Fig. 3 is aperspective view showing the p 7 I I vided about the boltwhich j 0111s the bracket method of assembly of the front axle bearingmembers; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view. of a modified method of assembling themembers to construct the rear axle bearing.

The toy vehicle to which I have shown my improvements applied consistsof an elongated frame or body portion, which is made up of tworelatively long frame members 11. These frame members are of anglecross-section and are in turn formed of the metal strips12, two of whichare spliced together in abutting relation in the formation of one of theframe members 11. The strips 12 are perforated, as shown, so that twoabuttingmembers may be placed end to end' and a metal strap .13 appliedand bolted thereto,.so that the two strips will form one long rigidmember. The angle members are then formed by joining two of the longrigid members thus formed by means of the perforated brackets 14, whichmay be secured to these strips by means of the perforations therein toconnect them in as many places as will be found desirable to form arigid member. These two frame members 11 may then be joined in spacedrelation by a plurality of strap members 15, which are placed atdesirable and convenient points along the length of the same, to formthe body member of the vehicle. To the front end of the body isconnected a V-shaped bracket 16, which is so shaped at the ends thereofthat it may be bolted .to both strips 12 of the frame members 11, sothat these brackets assist in holding these strips in assembledrelation. To the lower portion of this bracket is connected a clip 17bymeans of a bolt 10, which clip is perforated'to receive the front axle18 carrying the two wheels 19. A pin 20 may .be inserted throughperforations in the axle on each side of each of the wheels 19 toprevent the movement of the wheels longitudinally of the axle. Toprevent longitudinal movement between the legs of the. clip 17 and it isprovided with a set screw 22, which when tightened, will secure the axlein position.

It is seen that the parts thus far described may be assembled, as setforth to provide a rigid body member which has an axle pivotallyconnected thereto and securely held in osition. This pivotal connectionis pro- 16 to the clip 17.

I It'is common in toy vehicles of the glider and coaster type to providerear wheels that are of greater diameter than the front wheels. Thisdifference in the size of the wheels appears in the embodiment of myinvention shown in the drawings and it is particularly apt to be true intoys of the type shown Where the parts are used in et 16,is securedwithin tl1e.U-shaped clip 17', by the-bolt l0. -position. is, of;course, non-rotatably. held ment. upon the axle.

the construction of other toys. The rear axle 23, which carries thelarger wheels 24-,

is of course supported .ata, greater distance.

' for the rear axle hearing, but in the interest of economy. it isexpedient'to use, if possible,

some or all ofthelsame members, assembled in a different relation,.ratherthan to manutt'actnre other members of smaller 'size, which,it-fis apparent, would increase the vcost ofthe toy set.

. I have therefore devised the constructions shown 1n Figs. 2-.and- 4,which use the same constructionunits as the bearing. assembly shown inFig. 3, but mount the: body Supporting' ll-bracket below the axleinstead of above, thereby making: just enough. differxence'in the heightof-th'e bracket to compensate for the difference in diameter of thewheels.

To assemble the parts as shown in Fig. 2, oneof'the V-shaped brackets16', identical in shape and size with the V-shaped brack- The bracket,in this within' the clip 17. A; second 'U-shaped clip 21- thenplacedwith 1 one .of its legs. between thoseofdhe clip. I'T'vand theaxle- 23 'is inserted throu 'lrthe ali ned o enin'es b t: o

thenbe held against longitudinal displace- In thisarrangement thebracket 16' ismounted non-rotatably upon the axlewliile, shown in Fig.3, the

front axlev 18 and clip :17; may rotate about the .bolt- 10 to steer the:vehicle.

htly different arrangement is shownin Fig.

entirely withinflthe clip 17", insteadof-being .placedin a-straddlingposition as shown in as: in Fig. 2 and the body supporting .brack- 4 14, wherein the clip -21 is. placed Otherwisethe part-s are assembled -et16. is held inthe same'position as in thatufigine.

' s'sbodyor seat member 25::may be secured .to the framei members 11 bybolts, 26 passing through perforations 271 in the member I\S ShO.VH,"thQseat member. contains a numberirof perforations so that itnmay. besecured upon the body in various relations. In practice theparts ofthetoy are, when detached,- packedin abox and thezseat member 25 forms alid for the packing box. Spacing. brackets (not shown) are usuallymounted on the frame members '11 below the seat25. i

Itis apparent that I have provided a strong and substantial constructiontoy, which, may be economically manufactured and which excels inappearance, strength and durability. many of the permanently built toysnow upon the market.

'As shown, the parts of my toy vehicle are all constructedof metal butthe particular mate-rial 'usedmay, o-f-course, be varied without; 5departing from my invention.

While I have. shown and. described: one embodiment of my invention, itis to be understood thatI do notslimitmyself"thereto inall ofits detailsasvarious changes may-be made without departing from tl e spirit. of theinventionor from the scope of -the; appended claims- YVhat I claim, is:

LIn a toy vehicle, a body, front-and rear axles, similar brackets tosupportsaid body from said axles,.;- one of said bracketsbeing-supportedat a-pointabove one axle and another. of said. bracketsbeing supported at a point :below the other axle to support the body atdifferent distances from said: ax les,. and a set of securing members 2.In a tov.vel-iicle, a body, an. axle, a

substantially l-slraped bracket (secured to saidhody, a. llesh'aped clipembracingrsaid axles said axle-lying within the apex of 1l1 the'clips.dWhen in proper, position the set screw "22 is tightened-zandthepartswill thel bracket, saidebracketbeing connected to said clip at.a,point.below said axle.

In. a toy vehicle, abody, an axle, a substantially VTshaped bracketsecured to said.- body, anda U- shaped clip having. its legs embracingsaid axle and the base dependin therefri m the apex of said hrack et-"beng securedvtothe upper face ofcsaid clip base at a point below; saidaxle; so that said body is suspended from the axle. 4.- In; a. toyvehicle, a body, an axle, a

substantially V-shaped bracket secured to,

saidbody, a;U-shaped clip embracingsaid axle,said1;bracket beingconnected toxsaid clip;at.a.point-below said axle, and asec ond clipsecured to the axle and straddling one oft-he legs of said. first cliptoprevent longitudinal movement of said axlerelative to said first clip.

In witness-whereof, I have hereunto set my handronthe 8th day ofDecember, 1920.

ALFRED C. GILBERT.

